Hi Sexy —
Now is the time for making New Year’s resolutions. Here’s what I want for you in the coming year: more time, more money and more energy. So often it seems that to have more of one, we end up with less of the others. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some tips for a fabulous 2017.
More money
Let’s start with ways to make more money on cam. The best advice is the simplest:
- Determine what earns the most money.
- Do more of it.
- Let go of what doesn’t work.
Figuring this out requires two steps. The first is systematically tracking your stats, day over day, week over week, month over month. Don’t get caught up in what “feels” successful, because numbers do not lie.
The second step is experimenting. The biggest mistake newbie entrepreneurs make is assuming whatever they like is what the customer wants. If something isn’t working, no matter how much you’re in love with it, you need to do something else.
I recommend trying different modes during your shifts to determine what drives eyeballs and clicks. Do you get more business when you talk or when you type? Are there certain times of the day/week/month that are reliably busier? Do you offer a specialty that drives traffic, or do you perform better as a generalist?
Try to standardize your experiments and be consistent. For example, try only typing during a four-hour window on a Saturday afternoon, then only talking during that same period next Saturday. Comparing typing on a Saturday afternoon to talking on a Wednesday morning six weeks later is less helpful. The more closely controlled your experiments are, the clearer your results will be.
Another tip is to write two different ads using the same photos to see what copy works best. Do the same thing using identical copy but two different photos. Sometimes it takes several tries to land on that winning combination that brings your clientele home to you.
More time
It seems there are never enough hours in the day, but cutting down on redundancies can be a huge time saver. Create template emails you can cut-and-paste when replying to common requests like your hours or rates. Post your rules clearly everywhere on your site and in your ads, and enforce them, because rule breakers are time-wasters. Getting rid of them leaves you available for paying customers.
Technology can be a time-saver, as well. Hootsuite and Social Booster are social media management tools that can automatically post content across all your social media accounts for you, keeping up your online presence around the clock.
Saving time is great; not wasting time is even better! If you suspect you’re spending too much time online, there are ways to help you cut down. Rescue Time tracks your online travels and how long you spend at each site. If you need more serious intervention, StayFocused, FocalFilter, and SelfControl are apps that will block you from those sites that turn into time sinks.
More energy
Let this be the year that you invest in your wellbeing. After all, what’s the point of having more time and money if you neglect yourself?
My top recommendation is mindfulness, a technique that helps to calm your mind and body. You can practice even while your chat room is empty. Rather than cruising the web for kitty videos, try these simple steps:
- Sit quietly and comfortably, eyes open or closed.
- Breathe normally, or if you prefer, slightly slower and more deeply than usual.
- Observe the present moment as it is, without judgment. The only goal is to pay attention to what is happening right this very second.
- Let judgments, memories and thoughts pass. They will inevitably bubble up. Just acknowledge them and let them go by.
- Whenever your mind wanders (and it will!), gently return to the present moment.
Over time, mindfulness can help moderate your emotional state, focus your mind and eliminate stress. You can read more about it here.
Other suggestions for caring for your mind, body and soul:
- Schedule time for self-care, such as yoga or meditation.
- Spend less time online and more time outside in the fresh air.
- Socialize with friends. They make life worth living.
- Develop your outside interests: take a class or commit to an art project.
Here’s wishing 2017 is your healthiest, wealthiest year ever!
Until next time, be sweet to yourself.
Lola D.
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Lola Davina is a longtime veteran of the sex industry and author of the upcoming Thriving in Sex Work: Heartfelt Advice for Staying Sane in the Sex Industry, a self-help book for sex workers. Contact her at Lola.Davina@ynotcam.com and visit her on Twitter at @Lola_Davina, on Facebook, and on Tumblr.
Image of Lola Davina courtesy Pat Mazzera.
